People of influence over the McEuen Plan who own property near the park:
1. Starting on the right, the two gold colored buildings are McEuen Tower and Parkside Tower, both owned by Miller-Stauffer Architects. They are also the lead designers of the park’s renovation plan! And the city paid at least $125,000 for their design.
2. Next, in purple is the whole 1/2 block owned by Charlie Nipp and Steve Meyer. Steve and Charlie own Parkwood Properties, a real estate development company, which is not in this location. This is the Bank of America building and adjacent parking lots. Charlie is still on LCDC and was its chairman for more than 10 years. The most recent news is that LCDC Commissioner since 2000, Rod Colwell, now works full-time for Charlie and Steve at Mt. West Bank. (Charlie is Chairman of the Board of Mt. West Bank and Steve is on the board also. Plus, they both own big shares of the bank’s parent company). Steve owns many other companies, one of which (InterMax Communications) hired and still retains city councilman Mike Kennedy as its full-time President shortly after he won his first city council term. Charlie and Steve bought the whole 1/2 block across from McEuen while Charlie was chairman of LCDC, even though state law (Idaho Code 50-2017) tells all commissioners and employees of urban renewal agencies not to “voluntarily acquire any personal interest, direct or indirect, in any urban renewal project or in any property included or planned to be included in any urban renewal project…” And Charlie and Steve were both significant contributors to City Councilwoman and LCDC member Deanna Goodlander’s last campaign.
3. Hagadone Hospitality is in orange, with the Resort, the Plaza Shops and Quicksilver Photography.
4. In blue, up tucked into the cozy corner of 4th & Sherman created by closing off the street and making a pedestrian mall, is the Java building, as I call it, owned by Brad Jordan of LCDC, who’s also Chairman of the city’s P&Z Commission.
5. On the other corner of 4th & Sherman, noted in yellow, is the Mayor’s building.
(the uncolored buildings are owned by folks who are not connected to this effort)
*My thanks to Dan for his help with this map!
Let us not forget the white building between hagdone nad nipp/meyer that is owned by reagan/widmyer that also sit on boards in the city.
Comment by concerned citizen — March 25, 2011 @ 8:22 pm
It’s pretty obvious what’s going in here and yet, no one is really interested in pursuing a case of corruption. Why is that?
Comment by Stebbijo — March 25, 2011 @ 8:51 pm
I don’t know who “reagan” is, but Steve Widmyer owns a small parcel at the base of 4th and Front. To my knowledge, he doesn’t serve on any City boards or commissions. The Roxy building is owned by Roxy Building LLC, and to my knowledge the owner of that LLC also doesn’t serve on any City boards or commissions.
Comment by Dan — March 25, 2011 @ 10:50 pm
Coeur d’Alene Mines owns the other parcel that abuts McEuen Field. As far as I know, CdA Mines doesn’t serve on any City board or commission.
Comment by Dan — March 25, 2011 @ 10:53 pm
Dan,
Who are the directors of Roxy Building LLC? Do they also own the property behind the Roxy?
Comment by LTR — March 26, 2011 @ 8:33 am
Does LCDC own the property on the south, east side of Sherman at 7th?
I believe LCDC owns several properties near City Hall.
Comment by LTR — March 26, 2011 @ 8:39 am
My understanding is that the Roxy building is owned by John Montandon who also owns the Ace Hardware on east Sherman. The US Bank building on 3rd & Sherman, and it’s parking lot, are owned by US Bank Corp, not a local person or entity.
Dennis Wheeler of CdA Mines, Steve Widmeyer and John Montandon have never surfaced as politically or financially trying to influence the McEuen park plan. They do not sit on any of the committees involved, nor any other local boards or commissions that I know of.
Comment by mary — March 26, 2011 @ 8:46 am
The President of Cadillac Jakes, Inc. (Cricket’s at 424 Sherman) is Jim Elder who is an LCDC Commissioner and I believe is or was also on the Parking Commission.
Comment by Bill — March 26, 2011 @ 9:22 am
So if you can prove all of this corruption and racketeering why don’t you sue the skin off of them, or at the very least bring your findings to the States Attorney ?
Comment by Cardinal Flyer — March 26, 2011 @ 1:46 pm
Cardinal, I can prove exactly what I’ve written. It’s all a matter of public record. That said, taking these issues to court is way beyond the financial capability of most average citizens, myself included. One would think our County Prosecutor, on behalf of the taxpayers, might question some of these interactions? No. But remember that his wife, who is an artist, was paid $100,000 by the city of CdA, about a year ago, for the metal tree sculpture she did for the corner of Sherman and CdA Lake Drive, down by Michael D’s.
Influence?…you bet. Criminal?…probably not. Unethical?…I think so.
Comment by mary — March 26, 2011 @ 2:02 pm
Remember: The State Attorney General works for the Legislature, not the citizens. If the County Prosecutor — whose wife, as Mary says, was paid $100,000 for “art” — decides not to pursue this issue, then it’s dead. They get away with it. I know it. They know it. It’s all fixed. Short of getting people off their apathetic asses and into the voting booth, nothing is going to change here.
Welcome to Idaho.
Comment by Dan — March 26, 2011 @ 2:21 pm
Dan, It’s not just Idaho, It’s everywhere people don’t cast educated votes or any votes for the matter.
Comment by Ancientemplar — March 26, 2011 @ 2:29 pm
People do vote here and they vote intelligently. The problem is that when this happens, the fix is already in.
Comment by Stebbijo — March 26, 2011 @ 4:17 pm
Stebbijo,
I tend to agree that some people do vote and that they try to be as informed as possible. Our task is more difficult because our local news/skews/viewsmedia don’t consistently report the news timely, completely, and accurately. Good for those voters who make the effort to be informed on candidates and issues in spite of the intended ignorance promoted by the Press/press. One phrase describes being a newspaper reporter for either the Coeur d’Alene Press or the Spokesman-Review: Career dead-end.
The ballot wording for the recently-concluded School District 271 levy election certainly suggests there is a tacit acceptance of efforts to manipulate the outcome of elections in Kootenai County. To Cliff Hayes’ and Carrie Phillips’ credit, they followed the law rather than taking the usually politically expedient road often traveled in Kootenai County. We’ll see what shenanigans they have to overcome in upcoming elections. Hopefully the many honest citizens in the County will make it very clear that the status quo corruptus in elections will no longer be tolerated. That message has to reach all the way to the Idaho Secretary of State’s and Attorney General’s offices in Boise, though.
Comment by Bill — March 26, 2011 @ 4:35 pm
WRONG! there are other boards such as the DTA and parking commission. Also, convienent purchases in the fort grounds coinciding with the bailout of Chesrown. Look for the connections, you will find them.
Comment by concerned citizen — March 26, 2011 @ 6:02 pm
Tell us, CC…where, who, when?
Comment by mary — March 26, 2011 @ 6:45 pm
concerned citizen,
What is the story on the purchases in the Fort Grounds?
Comment by Bill — March 26, 2011 @ 7:11 pm
Thank you Mary for posting this information, it is very helpful. Wish I could have made the meeting/dinner.
Jullee
Comment by Jullee — March 28, 2011 @ 12:28 pm